A day to Come

September 23, 2016

Jeremiah 3:15-24

How often do you stop and acknowledge the Scriptures are not just history of nations and people of the past, but that the Bible is living and all that happened in the past was to guide, give direction, to lead us to Christ?  The fifteenth verse; “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”  It is evident the Father is not referring to a political leader but a pastor, a spiritual leader, someone like Jeremiah.  If you have such a man, pray for him, honor and respect him, and make sure he has your support. 

In verses 16-18, the phrase “in those days” is used twice, a time to come, what you and I often refer to as future.  What is going to happen, Israel and Judah will once more become one, they will multiply and increase, and “The ark of the covenant of the Lord” shall not even come to mind or be missed.  And at that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and nations shall come to it, for the Lord will reign.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem through the East gate on His triumphal and last visit before being crucified, it is evident when He returns it will be by way of the East gate.  In Old Testament prophecies we have Messiah entering a second time as King of king’s and LORD of Lord’s.  In 1530 A.D. Muslim conquerors walled the East gate closed and put a cemetery in front of it hoping to prevent Jesus’ return.

Have I shared with you that Satan is a defeated foe, and yet He is still trying to put into the hearts of our leaders, such as President Carter, and Obama to give Jerusalem to anyone but the Jews?  How foolish of a Muslim to believe a walled gate can stop the Creator or political leaders that they can stop what God has already spoken. 

Many believe that verse 19 happened on May 14, 1948, when Israel became a nation again.  The thing one must understand, Israel is still under God’s protection, the archangel Michael is still their prince as proclaimed in Daniel 12:1, “At that time shall arise, Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble; such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.”  Daniel sees way into what we call the future, and yet my brothers and sisters it is much closer today.

But the Israel of the present is still unfaithful, still chasing little gods, much like a treacherous wife leaves her husband.  The Father desires them to call on Him as their Father, but they have not.  Israel like so many of us is seeking God on their terms, but only when they seek Him as their Messiah and Lord, will they have peace.  But a day is coming when the Church age will end, and Israel will experience verse 25, “Let us lie down in our shame, and let our dishonor cover us. For we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.”  That sounds like a confession, an awaking, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice